Syracuse in focus (SIF)

“I met so many people from Mississippi tonight I thought I was back home…”

Dr. Alphonso Sanders

Dr. Alphonso Sanders made himself at home at Al’s Wine and Whiskey Lounge.

Musician/educator Dr. Alphonso Sanders turned AL’s (321 S. Clinton Street), into his own personal Juke Joint last night. The multi-instrumentalist made a return to Central New York (with pianist Jimmy Lee, Jr.) for an appearance at SUNY Oswego, but he made a timely pit-stop in Downtown Syracuse.

During the two-set performance, which went way past midnight, Dr. Sanders also invited a collective of Syracuse musicians to find the groove with him. These virtuoso suspects included Reggie Seigler, Glen McArthur, Emanual Washington, Thomas TC Carter, Dequan Bowens, Paul Lee, Sam Wynn, John Heard, and Elijah Harris, Jr.

And while snow was gently falling, along with the temperatures outside, inside the former cigar bar quickly became a sweat box dripping with Delta funk.

If you’ve never seen Sanders you quickly learn to respect his musicianship. He is like a one-man Earth Wind & Fire horn section working the flugelhorn, sax and flute.  He also sang, smooth-talked the ladies from the bandstand, wailed on his harmonica, and even told a joke or two. The night featured some down home blues as well as great covers of Al Green, Miles, Grover, and Stevie.

The Professor: Unmuted

The star-studded crowd included poet Jackie Warren-Moore, media personality Marc Lamont Hill, and contingent from SUNY Oswego.

Overall it was a great Wednesday night, but next time we’d like to see Dr. Sanders headline a Friday at the Dinosaur BBQ.

Special shout-out to Dr. Jerald Jones Woolfolk (another Mississippi native) for her assistance.